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An accident between a car and a train that snarled traffic in Germantown this week resulted from a missed turn that left the panicked driver's abandoned vehicle on the tracks as a westbound train approached, according to the accident report.

The accident, about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, resulted in no injuries but disrupted traffic at crossings in the area of the accident on Germantown Road S. at Southern Avenue, just north of Germantown Commissary. The train traveled a short distance west after the collision before stopping at the busy intersection of West and Poplar Pike.

The Germantown Road crossing has a railroad crossing arm that, when lowered, would block left turns onto Southern, just before the tracks, as a train approaches. The driver, who was not identified, told police the arm and signal had not activated as she attempted to make her turn, but an inspection by officers showed the signal and gate were working properly on both the northbound and southbound sides of the track.

According to officers, the driver of the 2005 Hyundai Sonata took the turn onto Southern too wide and the car ended up on the tracks, pointing east, as the westbound train approached. The driver told police she was blinded by the headlights of oncoming traffic as she attempted the turn.

Unable to back up her vehicle far enough to clear the tracks, police said the driver exited the vehicle before the train hit it head-on.

Germantown City Engineer Tim Gwaltney wasn't sure how many rail crossings within the city limits are without crossing gates, but said the Poplar Pike-West intersection where the train came to a halt after Wednesday's accident is probably the largest.

"That (intersection) was a heavily talked about project as part of the Germantown Road realignment, but that project is on hold indefinitely," Gwaltney said.

The controversial realignment project was shelved early this year after complaints about disruptions and how it would destroy the quaint character of the Old Germantown area.

Even though there are no gates at Poplar Pike and West, it's a big intersection with traffic signals located well back from the tracks on both the north and south sides of West, as well as for traffic turning north onto West from Poplar Pike. The traffic signals turn red well before approaching trains arrive.

Gwaltney said the city, in conjunction with rail line owners, have made improvements at two crossings during the nine years he has been with the city — the one at Southern Avenue and at Hacks Cross. He said the improvements included pavement, along with updated lights and gates. A similar project between the city in conjunction with the railroad is planned for this year at Oak Manor.

In all projects at rail crossings, Gwaltney said the city is responsible for the roadways while the rail owners maintain the tracks as well as warning lights and gates.

"But we never do anything without them knowing, and vice versa," Gwaltney said.